Vehicle washing apparatus



Aug. 7, 1945. D. HOLMES VEHICLE .WASH ING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l A 1945. 1.. D. HOLMES VEHICLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Jul 31', 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Aug. 7, 1945 vnmom WASHING APPARATUS Louis D. Holmes, Blue Island, 111., assignor ,to Whiting (hrporation, Harvey, 11]., a corporation of Illinoh Application July 31, 1943, Serial No. 496,879

-50laims. (Cl. 15-53) g The invention relates. to washing apparatus for vehicles and more Particularly to that type of apparatus forwashing railway cars or other vehicles while they are 'moved past and engage motor driven vertical rotary brushes.

One object of .the invention is to provide simple' and eflicient means for pivotally supporting the brush for horizontal swinging and pressing it against the side of the vehicle during the washingand automatically retracting it to a central position after the vehicle has traveled past the brush.

- "Another object of the-invention is to provide improved means for this purpose which requires only a single weight and cable for permitting the deflection of the brush horizontally in opposite directions from its central position by a vehicle traveling in either direction and retracting itto its central positon when the vehiclehas traveled past the brush.

Another object of the invention is to provide washing apparatus which comprises a spray pipe for the rotating brush and a supporting struc-' ture for pivotally supporting 'the brush and spray pipe for horizontal swinging movement in opposite directions from a central position, and means for causing. the brush .to be pressed against the side of the vehicle and retracted to its central position through engagement with the spray pipe.

Anotherobject of the invention is to improve the construction setforth in Patent No. 2,318,995. Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

, '"I'he invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter-set forth and more particularly defined bv-olaims at the conclusion hereof.

' In the drawin gsz 1 is a front elevation of tus embodying the invention.

, Fig; 2 is a'vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a of Fig. 1.

.Fig. 5* is a rear elevation ofone for yieldably shifting abrush.

1 Fig. 61s a perspective of the lower portion'of the supporting structure for one of the brushes. The invention is exemplified in washing ap washing apparataken on linel3 vertical section taken on line 4-4 paratus which comprises a central upright I-beam which constitutes a rigid supporting mast ID, a vertical ro 'anv brush ii of sumcient height of the devices,

to-traverse and wash the entire side of a vehicle and a short vertical rotary brush l2 adapted to wash the windows of the vehicle.v Each of the brushes is supported by a structure which comprises a pair oi arms which are pivoted to swing horizontally to permit the brushes to be contacted by the side of the vehicle and deflected laterally in either direction from a central position in which it projects into the path of travel of the vehicle. A weight actuated device is provided for each brush to press the brush against the vehicle and automatically retract it to its central position.

The supporting structure for the brush ii and its shaft i4 comprises an upper supporting arm ii, the distal end of which carries a self-aligning hearing it for shaft I4; a vertically extending spacer tube 23 rigidly secured to arm II; a shaft 25 extending through tube 23 and having its upper end journaled in a, bearing 26 fixed to a bar 21 which is welded to the mast i0 and its lower end journaled in a bearing 28 fixed to a bar 29 which is welded to the mast I 0 and a lower arm 3i which is pivoted onthe shaft 25 supported on a thrust bearing 32, and carries at its distal end a self-aligning bearing 80 for the lower end of brush shaft I 4. An arm 33 is rigidly secured to the lower end of tube 23 and is provided with a fork 35. An abutment 34 which extends through the arm 3i has a limited horizontal movement in the fork 35 to permit the brush ii and'its shaft i4 to tilt laterally so that the brush will be free to align itself with the vehicle side when the vehicle is tilted and its side is not vertical. A spray-pipe 4i extends between the upper arm i'! and the lower arm 3! and is provided with nozzles 42 for spraying waits shaft i5 comprises carries at its distal end 43 connects the lower end of spray-pipe 4| to the abutment 34 and the upper end of pipe 4i is connected by ablevis 46 to the same arm l1. The clevi'ses '43 and 46. permit the spraypipe 4| to followthe angular movement of the brush ii when it aligns itself with the tilted vehicle side. The fork 35 limits the angular movement of the brush Ii and spray-pipe 4i and the iingililsar movement of shaft I4 in its upper bear- The supporting structure for the brush i2 and an upper arm I! which a bearing IS, a lower arm :1 which carries the bearing 36 on the lower end of brush shaft ii, a spacer tube 24 fixedly secured to saidarms i1 and '31, a shaft 38 extending through the spacer tube 24, an upper hearing 26 for shaft 24 which is welded to the bar 21, and a lower bearing 39 which is welded to the bar 40 and in which shaft 24 is journaled. A spray-pipe 41 extends between the upper supporting arm l1 for the shaft l and the lower supporting arm 31 for said shaft. This spraypipe is provided with nozzles 41' for spraying water onto the rotating brush I2. The upper end of spray-pipe 41 is connected by a clevis 46 to the arm H which supports the shaft l5 and its lower end is connected by a clevis 48 to the lower arm 31.

A separate driving mechanism is provided for each of the brushes for individually driving said brush shafts. Each driving mechanism comprises a vertical electric motor l6 supported on the top of a bracket l9 which is rigid with and is adapted to swing with one of the arms H; a small belt pulley on the depending shaft of the motor; a series of endless belts 2| driven by pulley 20 and a belt'pulley 22 driven by the belts and secured to the upper end of each of the brush shafts I4, I 5.

Stationary vertical jet pipes 49 and 50 which are connected together by a pipe 5| are adapted to direct streams of water against the side of the vehicle as it is approaching and after it has passed the brushes. A flexible pipe 52 supplies water from pipe 5| to the jet pipe 4| and a flexible pipe 53 supplies water from pipe 5| to the jet pipe 41. Spray shields 54 and 55 are secured to the mast ID to confine the splash from the brushes so it will not be projected outwardly of the mast In.

A weight actuated device is connected to each of the brushes for normally holding them respectively in a central position, for yieldingly pressing the brush against th vehicle side when it is defiected'in opposite directions by the vehicle, and for retracting the brush when the vehicle has passed through the brush. These devices are substantially alike in construction and each comprises a rotatabl member 56 around one of the spacer tubes 23 or 24, and vertically supported thereon by a collar 51 which is secured to the tube by a set-screw; a weight 59 of sufficient force to shift the brush and its supporting a structure and guided vertically in a cylinder 59' which is welded to a flange on the bar 29; a cable 58 from the lower end of which the weight, 59 is suspended; a stud 60 which is provided with a pintle 6| which is journaled in the rim of member 56 and which is provided with a socket in which the expanded upper end of the cable is fixedly secured; and a pair of sheaves 62 between which the cable 58 is guided beneath the stud 60. Each member 56 is provided with a fork 69 which straddles one of the spray-pipes 4|, 41 to provide a connection between said member and one of the brush supporting structures. When a brush is swung horizontally in either direction from its normal position, the spray-pipe carried by its supporting structure will rotate member 56 and stud 60 will be shifted horizontally around the axis of the spacer tube of that structure as illustrated by-dotted lines in Fig. 5. This movement of stud 60 will lift the weight 59 while the portion of the cable between sheaves 62 and the stud will be pulled angularly and laterally to lift'the weight 59 sothat the force of the weight will be exerted to rotate member 56 to shift the supporting structure for said brush through the engagement of fork 69'with one of the spray-pipes 4|, 41. The weight 59 will then function to press the brush against the vehicle. In' this construction, the spray-pipes 4|, 41 function as verticalconnections between the upper and lower brush supporting arms, which are laterally offset from the vertical spacer tubes which are coaxial with the arms, and are connected to the members 56 for conjoint horizontal swinging movement.

When the vehicle has traveled past the brush, the weight will retract the rotatable member 56 and the latter, through its engagement with the spray-pipe 4| or 41, will retract the brush to its normal or central position. When the brush II is deflected by the vehicle and is inclined for alignment with the tilted side of the vehicle, the arm 3| within the limits permitted by abutment 34 and fork 35 will be movable relatively to the upper supporting arm H of the supporting structure for said brush. When this occurs, the rotatable member 56 through fork 69 and spray-pipe 4| by the force of the weight 59 connected to said member, will shift the brush I from its inclined position to its vertical and normal or central position by the engagement of member 56 and the spray-pipe 4|. In this operation arm 33 will swing with the upper arm l1 and the lower supporting arm 3| for brush II will be shifted by member 56 and the spray-pipe 4| so its abutment 34 will be centered in the fork 35. The member 56 is preferably formed of plate metal and comprises a plate 65, a rim 66 Welded to plate 65, a collar 61 welded to plate 65, and ribs 68 welded to plate 65, collar 61 and the rim 66. The pintle 6| of stud 60 is journaled in a block 10 which is welded to the rim 66 and plate 65 and secured in said block by a pin 1|. Each sheave 62 is journaled in a forked bracket 63 which is secured to a bar 64 which is welded to the mast Ill.

The operation of the apparatus will be as follows: The vehicle or railway car to be washed will be moved to travel past the washing unit and as it reaches the brushes |2 it will deflect them in the direction of travel of the vehicle and swing their supporting structure horizontally. Each structure will, through the, connection between the spray-pipe connected thereby between its upper and lower supporting arms, rotate one of the members 56. Such rotation of each member 56 will pull the end of the cable 58 attached to the stud 60 which is swivelled to swing on a horizontal axis in said member. The stud moves arcuately and horizontally according to the direction in which the extent to which the brushes are swung. The stud 66.will shift cable 58 to raise the weight 59 for pressing the brush against the side of the vehicle. The stud 60 during the rotation of member 56, will rotate in said member to cause a direct pull on the cable between the guide sheaves 62 and the stud. As the vehicle moves past the brushes the rotating brushes sprayed with water will wash the vehicle. The spray-pipes 49 and 50 will spray the vehicle with water before and after the vehicle travels past the brushes. As soon as the vehicle has passed the brushes, the force of the weights 59 will react on the members- 56 and the latter will, through the engagement with the spray-pipes 4|, 41, respectively, restore the brushes to their central positions in readiness for washing a succeeding vehicle. When the brush II is inclined from its vertical position as it aligns itself with a tilted car side, the lower supporting arm 3| will move relatively to the upper supporting arm H for the brush II and correspondingly incline the spray-pipe 4| from its normal and vertical position. When this occurs, the force of the weight 59 will, through cable 58 and member 56, react on the spray pipe 4| to restore the brush II to its normal vertical position after the brush is released by the vehicle. This insures the return of the brush l I to its normal vertical position at all times.

The invention exemplifies a device actuated by a single weight for pressing one of the brushes against the vehicle and which automatically restores-the brush to its normal central position. The invention also exemplifies a weight actuated means for these purposes which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vehicle washing apparatus, the combination with a vertically extending rotary motordriven brush adapted to engage one side of the vehicle and a brush-supporting structure pivoted for deflection horizontally in opposite directions from a normal central position by the engage ment of the vehicle with thebrush, of a memher on the axial portion of the structure and for horizontal swinging movements therewith, a stud swiveled in said member to rotate in a p e transverse to the swinging movements of the member, a weight for retracting the structure and the brush,a cable having one of its ends fixedly secured to the stud and its other end connected to the weight, for lifting the weight when the brush is shifted in opposite directions from its central position for automatic retraction of the brush to its central position by the weight from its off-center positions, and stationarily supported guide means for and on opposite sides of the cable and closely adjacent the stud.

2. In a vehicle washing apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vertically extending rotary motor-driven brush adapted to engage one side of the vehicle and a brush-supporting structure pivotedfor deflection horizontally in opposite directions from a normal central position by the engagement of the vehicle with the brush, of a member having an arcuate substantially concentric peripheral face and on the axial portion of the structure, and for horizontal swinging movements therewith, a stud swiveled in said member to rotate in a plane transverse to the swinging movements of the member and projecting from said peripheral face, a weight for retracting the structure and the brush, a cable having one of its ends fixedly secured to the stud and its other end connected to the weight, for lifting the weight when the brush is shifted in opposite directions from its central position for automatic retraction of the brush to its central position by the weight from its off-center positions, and stationarily supported guide means for and on opposite sides of the cable and adjacent the stud and the peripheral face of said member.

3. In a vehicle washing apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vertically extending rotary motor-driven brush adapted to engage one side of the vehicle and a brushsupporting structure pivoted for deflection horizontally in opposite directions from a normal central position by the engagement of the vehicle with the brush, of a member having an arouate substantially concentric peripheral face and on the axial portion of the structure, and for horizontal swinging movements therewith, a stud swiveled in said member to rotate in a plane transverse to the swinging movements of the member and projecting from said peripheral face, a weight for retracting the structure and the brush, a cable having one of its ends fixedly secured to the stud and its other end connected to the Weight for lifting the weight when the brush is shifted in opposite directions from its central position for automatic retraction of the brush to its central position by the weight from its off-center positions, and a pair of guide-sheaves supported to rotate on stationary axes on opposite sides of the cable, respectively, and adjacent the stud and the peripheral face of said member.

4.. In a vehicle washing apparatus of the character described, the combination with a vertically extending rotary motor-driven brush adapted to engage one side of the vehicle and a brush-supporting structure pivoted for deflection horizontally in opposite directions from a normal central position by the engagement-of the vehicle with the brush, of a member having an arcuate substantially concentric peripheral face and on the axial portion of the structure and for horizontal swinging movements therewith, a stud swiveled in said -member to rotate in a plane transverse to the swinging movements of the member and projecting from said peripheral face, a weight for retracting the structure and the brush, a' cable having one of its ends fixedly secured to the stud and its other end connected to the weight for lifting the weight when the brush is shifted in opposite directions from its central position for automatic retraction of the brush to its central position by the weight from its off-center positions, and a pair of guidesheaves supported to rotate on stationary axes radial of said member on opposite sides of the cable, respectively, and adjacent the stud and the peripheral face of said member.

5. In a vehicle washing apparatus of the character described the combination with a vertically extending rotary motor-driven brush adapted to engage one side of the vehicle and a brushsupporting structure pivoted for deflection horifixedly secured in said eye on the stud and its other end connected to the weight for lifting the weight when the brush is shifted in opposite directions from its central position for automatic retraction of the brush to its central position by the weight from its off-center positions, and guide-means for and on opposite sides of the cable, respectively, and supported adjacent said eye and the peripheral face of said member.

LOUIS D. HOLMES. 

